WEEK IN REVIEW
Friday, April 22, 2022

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine Week in Review

For the week ending April 22, 2022

On Monday,?Governor Mike DeWine joined Tennessee Governor Bill Lee and 16 other governors in sending a?letter?that calls on the Biden Administration to remove a proposed rule that would make it unnecessarily difficult to apply for federal funding that could limit new charter school creation.

The Biden Administration?s rule would require new charter schools to demonstrate that there would be a sufficient demand for the proposed school, in other words that the relevant school district would be ?over-enrolled.?

By focusing on the number of seats, rather than the number of high-quality seats, the new standard fails to consider that a driving force in parents? decisions is the desire for their child to attend a school that meets their child?s unique needs.

The governors asked that the Biden Administration remove this requirement, extend the comment period for the proposed rule, and delay any changes to the charter school program to the next fiscal year.

Read the full letter.

Also on?Monday, Governor DeWine signed the following bill into law:?

• House Bill 95, sponsored by Representative Susan Manchester and Representative Mary Lightbody, authorizes a nonrefundable income tax credit for beginning farmers who attend a financial management program, or to individuals and businesses that sell or rent farmland, livestock, buildings, and equipment to beginning farmers.

Lt. Governor Husted speaks at a roundtable discussion while visiting Hynes Industries.

Lt. Governor Jon Husted visited the Youngstown area on?Monday afternoon. He?stopped by Hynes Industries for a roundtable discussion where he learned how the?TechCred program?has benefitted their business. Following the roundtable, the Lt. Governor was given a tour of the facility.

Lt. Governor Husted participates in a tour of Hynes Industries.

The Lt. Governor later?joined a roundtable discussion on Monday to learn more about the first cohort of the 5G Readiness Program at Youngstown State University and to highlight the importance of Ohio?s broadband and 5G workforce.

On Tuesday,?Governor DeWine announced the appointment of Keith McGrath to the Tenth District Court of Appeals, and the appoints of 25 others to boards such as the State Speech and Hearing Professionals Board,?Dog Breeding Advisory Board,?State Emergency Response Commission, and more.?

Governor DeWine announced on Tuesday that he and governors from 25 other states have joined together to form the new American Governors' Border Strike Force?to target?dangerous transnational criminal organizations that are flooding local communities with drugs.

"Our states are partnering together to create the American Governors? Border Strike?Force to disrupt and dismantle transnational criminal organizations by increasing collaboration, improving?intelligence, investing in analysis, combating human smuggling, and stopping drug flow in our states," said Governor DeWine.

In addition to Ohio, the following states are also participating in the American Governors' Border Strike Force:?Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wyoming.

By partnering?across state lines, the American Governors' Border Strike Force will serve as a force multiplier to target cartels and criminal networks financially and?operationally.?The collaboration will improve public safety, protect victims from horrific crimes, reduce the?amount of drugs in local communities, and help alleviate the humanitarian crisis at the Southern Border.

An overview of the American Governors' Border Strike Force and the signed memorandum of understanding between the governors of the participating states is available at governor.ohio.gov.?

Additionally,?the Ohio Third Frontier Commission approved $2.5 million in funding on Tuesday that will provide capital to technology startup companies in industries ranging from health care to military applications. The Commission also approved $3 million in funding for continued support of the Diversity & Inclusion Technology Internship Program to help companies fill their technology needs, build Ohio?s workforce, and grow the state?s inclusive tech economy.

?These new technologies and breakthroughs speak to the future of innovation in Ohio,? Governor Mike DeWine said. ?These companies have the potential to improve health outcomes, strengthen our military, improve the energy supply, and enhance cybersecurity.?

?In addition to advancing cutting-edge technology, we are investing in young talent to ensure these companies have the skilled workforce necessary to continue growing and innovating here in Ohio,? said Lydia Mihalik, director of the Ohio Department of Development and chair of the Ohio Third Frontier Commission. ?We are building Ohio?s inclusive tech economy while helping companies stay competitive by identifying and implementing new technology-driven solutions.?

Lt. Governor Husted meets with Roseville voulenteer firefighters.

On Wednesday,?Lt. Governor Husted traveled to?Roseville to meet with area volunteer firefighters following the recently announced?Ohio Task Force on Volunteer Fire Service. Governor DeWine?launched?the formation of the task force last week to study and make recommendations to improve volunteer fire service in Ohio.

Governor DeWine issued the following statement on Wednesday in support of?Ohio Auditor of State Keith Faber and his office conducting a special audit of the State Teachers Retirement System (STRS):

?This week, I spoke with Auditor Faber regarding his ongoing special audit of STRS. The issues being reviewed are of real importance to Ohio teachers and retired teachers: the transparency of the pension system, investment costs and fees, and the impact of cost-of-living adjustments. I am supportive of the Auditor?s efforts, and I look forward to the findings of the special audit. I am also encouraged by recent actions of the STRS Board to begin to address cost-of-living concerns.?

Ohio State Highway Patrol Officers help take inventory of personal protective gear donated by the Union County Sheriff's Office.

Governor DeWine also announced Wednesday that the Ohio Army National Guard will aid Ukraine by providing armored personnel carriers for use against continued Russian aggression.?

Following a request from the Department of Defense (DOD), the Ohio Army National Guard will give an undisclosed number of M-113 Armored Personnel Carriers (APC) to Ukraine as part of a drawdown of DOD inventories to support the war-torn country. M-113 APCs are used to move Soldiers and equipment across the battlefield while providing protection from small arms fire and the effects of artillery.?

"As we continue to learn about Russian war crimes in Ukraine, those of us in Ohio stand ready to help the Ukrainian people in any way possible," said Governor DeWine. "Ohio has a strong Ukrainian community, and we stand behind them and their families overseas."

Lt. Governor Husted visits a broadband expansion site where new fiber will be installed.

On Thursday,?Lt. Governor Husted met?with KG Myers Construction at?a broadband expansion site where they are preparing to lay fiber. He also had the opportunity to meet with a student from the Utility Construction Installer program at Terra State?Community College.?

Also on Thursday, Governor DeWine signed the following bills into law:

• House Bill 120, sponsored by Representative Mark Fraizer and Representative Tracy Richardson, permitting compassionate care visits in long-term care facilities during an an epidemic, pandemic, or other state of emergency.
• House Bill 126,?sponsored by Representative Derek Merrin, regarding processes for local governments to contest property value.
• House Bill 175,?sponsored by Representative Brett Hillyer, preserves Ohio EPA?s authority to protect ephemeral streams and aligns Ohio EPA?s regulatory authority with federal requirements. It helps ensure that Ohio?s waterways are not used as a dumping ground for debris and waste and strikes a balance between protecting Ohio?s waterways and providing consistent state regulations to support economic development. This will provide needed clarity for the regulated business community and continued protection of water quality.
• House Bill 291,?sponsored by Representative Jamie Callender and Representative Daniel Troy, designating multiple memorial highways and bridges, and creating new specialty license plates.
• House Bill 397,?sponsored by Representative Brian Stewart and Representative Darrell Kick, revising the agricultural lease law.
• House Bill 440,?sponsored by Representative D.J. Swearingen and Representative Andrea White, expands the Agricultural Linked Deposit Program and the types of obligations in which the Treasurer of State may invest interim funds, and declares an emergency.
• Senate Bill 25,?sponsored by Senator Theresa Gavarone, enacting the Relapse Reduction Act regarding drug test and trafficking and designates April as "Sexual Assault Prevention Awareness Month."
• Senate Bill 135, sponsored by Senator Jerry Cirino, regarding the operation of state institutions of higher education and free speech in public universities and colleges.?
• Senate Bill 256,?sponsored by Senator Steve Wilson, revising the travel insurance law.

Lt. Governor Husted pictured with Buckeye Meats & Processing employees.

Lt. Governor Husted later?visited Buckeye Meats & Processing in Hamler to learn more about how the company is using their recently awarded funding through the?Ohio Meat Processing Grant.

As a part of Ohio Governor Mike DeWine?s H2Ohio initiative, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) broke ground on the Indian Creek ? Hoffmann Wetland and Stream Restoration project in Butler County on Thursday. ?

?This wetland is one of dozens that will contribute to cleaner water for all Ohioans,? Governor DeWine said. ?With each completed project, we are one step closer to ensuring that future generations don?t have to worry about the quality of the water coming into their homes.?

Lt. Governor Husted learns how TechCred is helping local businesses in Mentor.

On Friday, Lt. Governor Husted toured?the newly constructed Alliance for Working Together (AWT) Foundation training center and met with AWT board members whose companies are using TechCred.

Governor DeWine issued a proclamation on Friday?recognizing April 22-29, 2022 as Ohio State Parks Week.?

?From Maumee Bay to Forked Run, our state parks add so much to our quality of life and make Ohio a great place to live,? said Governor DeWine. ?I encourage you to celebrate our state parks by taking time to get outside and enjoy a walk along a Storybook Trail with your family, a day on the water with friends, or a hike to some of Ohio?s most scenic spots.?

Also on?Friday,?Lt. Governor Husted stopped at the?City of?Stow Police Department to?learn about the new body camera equipment the department was able to purchase through the?Ohio Body-Worn Camera Grant Program announced this year.

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MEDIA CONTACT:
Dan Tierney: 614-644-0957